Combined support and switch for electric lamps



(No Model.)

H. W. SPANG. GOMBINED SUPPORT AND SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. No.284,505. Patented Sept. 4, 1883.

Fl 1| 2 r \f; |;l- :::::::::r L i k h E h k L R 1L D K t 1| WITNESSES .AI INVENTOR r By his flttorneys WSpang N. PETERS. Phcbinhcgnpher.Wflhmglon. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY NV. SPANG, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED SUPPORT AND SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,505, datedIeptember 4, 1883.

v Application filed April 24, 1883. (No model.)

T0 [6 who/1t zit may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY NV. SPANG, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Reading, in the county of Berks and-State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Supportsand Switches for Electric Lamps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction ofdevices for preserving the circuit-connections of the main line of anelectric light or other similar system during the time it is desired toremove alamp or other apparatus from the circuit.

The object of the invention is to insure the completion of the maincircuit at and during the time any lamp or other apparatus through whichthe current normally flows may be re moved from the system. Heretoforeit has been customary to suspend electric lamps by means of flexiblesupports, and to lead the electric conductors to the respective positiveand negative binding-posts in any convenient manner. hen it is desiredto remove the lamp for the purpose of repairing or renewing themechanism, it has been necessary to unite the two conductors leading tothe lamp by means of an independent tie-wire, or by coupling the endstogether. This operation is accompanied with considerable inconvenience,and it is liable to be omitted by the workmen. Moreover, the lamps, whensupported merely by flexible conductors, are liable to be displaced bythe wind, and their globes are frequently broken.

My inventionconsists in providing a supporting-arm rigidly attached tothe upper portion of the lamp, preferably the extremity of the tubeinclosing the upper carbon rod, and in providing a socket which may besecured to the ceiling or other supporting structure, into which theextremity of this rod is locked when the lamp is in position. Attachedto the same support with the socket is a movable switch orcircuit-closing device, consisting of a pivoted arm or lever providedwith two contact-points, respectively connected with the conductorsleading to and from the lamp. Oor responding contact-points are carriedupon the switch, and these points are electrically connected through anartificial resistance,

which is approximately equal to the normal resistance of the lamp. \Vhenthe lamp is supported in position, the rod being locked in its socket,the switch may be turned out of con tact with the two contact-points,and the current finds its way through the lamp in the usual manner. Whenit is desired to remove the lamp from the socket,it is necessary, inOrderto unlock the supporting-rod,to first move the circuit-closing arminto contact with the contact-points, thereby completing thecircuitconnections of the main conductor, independently of the lamp,before the lamp can be unlocked and thus taken out of circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 isa view in elevation of an electric lamp and a supportingswitch embodyingmy invention, and Fig. 2is a plan of the bottom of the switch andsupport.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the upper portion of the tube ofan electric lamp, into which the upper carbon rod extends. Attached tothe extremity of the tubeA isa rod, 0, of any required length, forsupporting the lamp. The upper extremity of the rod 0 fits into thesocket D, carried upon a plate, E, of non-conducting material, whichplate is sup ported from the ceiling or other convenient place. Throughthe socket D and rod 0 are formed perforations cl d respectively, for receiving a pin, f, by means of which the rod is securely locked into thesocket.

A switch or circnit-closing device, G, is pivoted to the plate E at apoint, g. The arm G is preferably of non-conducting material, andcarries at its opposite extremities two contact-points, h 71 Thesecontact-points are electrically connected with each other through aninsulated conductor, R, surrounding the arm G and constituting anartificial resistance, which is preferably approximately equal to thenormal resistance of the lamp. Two contact-plates, 7L3 h, arerespectively provided for the contact-points h h", and are connectedwith the main line L, upon opposite sidesof the lamp, byconducting-plates} and 2. The points h and If are caused to impingeagainst their respective plates h and h when the switcharm G is in theposition shown in dotted lines. The pin f is provided with an enlargedhead, f, which, when the pin is drawn out for the IOO purpose ofreleasing the rod 0, impinges against one extremity of the arm G, and itis only by moving the arm G into the position shown in the dotted lines,thereby closing the circuit of the main line L, through theconducting-plates 1 and 2 and the resistance R, that the pin can bewithdrawn a sufficient distance to allow the rod to be removed.

. Instead of employing a coil of insulated wire for the resistance R,any suitable form of artificial resistance may be used. It is notessential that the resistance should be carried upon and moved with theswitch-arm G. It may, for instance, be made to constitute theconducting-plate 2, uniting the contact-point h with the main line L,the remaining parts of the apparatus being constructed in the samemanner as described, except that the switcharm G can then be of metal,instead of nonconducting material.

The switch will be of service, not merely for short-circuiting the lampwhen it is desired to remove the same, but also for the purpose ofcutting the carbons out of circuit when it is desired to replace them,thereby dispensing with the necessity of employing the switchattachments commonly applied to the lamps themselves.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially ashereinbefore set forth, of a stationary socket, an elecsocket, andaswitch preventing the unlocking of said support from said socket,except when in position to close an electric shunt-circuit about saidelectric lamp.

2. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thesupporting-rod, a socket for receiving the same, the pin for lockingsaid support into said socket, the movable circuit-closing arm and itscontact-points, so constructed as to intersect the path of said pin,except when in position to complete the cirouit between itscontact-points, thereby shunting said lamp.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of anelectric lamp, means for supporting said lamp, a pivoted lever, anartificial resistance carried upon and moving with said lever, and twocontact-points in electrical connection, with which the respectiveterminals of said resistance are placed when said lever is in apredetermined position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day ofApril, A. D. 1883.

HENRY W. SPANG.

-Witnesses:

CASSIUS HOLTON, IsAAo Y. SPANG.

